Liquid metering and distributing apparatus



Aug 20, 1946. H. MQRGEZNROTH 1 2,406,239

I LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS I I Filed Feb; 2'1", 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet -i 1946- H. MORG EINROTH 2 406,?$39.

' LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Feb 27; L943 4 Sheeis-Sheetfl It I 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 H'll Aug. 20, 1946; HQMORGENROTH LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1943 Aug. 20, 1946; V H; MORGENROTH 2,406,239

LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS I FiledFeb. 27, 1946 4 Shegts-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Henri Morgenroth, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 27, 1943, Serial No. 477,457

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting distribution of liquids, and more particularly to feed systems for liquid fuel or other liquids.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro vide simple means for effecting distribution of equal quantities of liquid such as liquid fuel to difierent feed lines, or points of consumption, that is to say, so that all the points of consumption will receive equal quantities of the liquid or fuel. j

While the invention would be useful in any situation Where an equal distribution of this kind is to be effected, it is intended particularly for use in connection with fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines operating on liquid fuel, and in this connection one of the objects of the invention is to provide a compact construction or apparatus in which the fuel or liquid passing to the different points of consumption, is metered in a metering chamber with its distribution timed to adapt the same for feeding to the different injection nozzles of the working cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

A common type of injection system consists substantially of an individual injection pump for each working cylinder, and each pump is provided with a device to regulate the fuel delivery from that pump, means being provided to change the effective stroke of the piston, such as a helical groove in the piston, or other means. These means for changing the pump delivery of each pump unit, have to be coupled with each other so as to be adjusted simultaneously to effect delivery at all times of an equal charge into each pump. However, these adjustments make it possible to obtain equal fuel delivery at one load only; if for instance, the fuel delivery of all pump units is adjusted to be equal at full output, the delivered quantities may be erratic at partial loads since it is practically impossible to form a helical groove or construct such devices for varying the fuel delivery in such a way that the same will be absolutely identi-,

cal at each pump unit. Furthermore, even if such a gang of pumps were constructed so as to deliver equal charges, it is obvious that the slightest unequal wear. of the different individual driving parts for the pumps, would cause relative inequality in the amounts of fuel they would deliver. This'objection is aggravated by the fact that the charge injected into each cylinder of internal combustion engines of a Diesel or semi-Diesel type for each stroke, is

very small indeed, sometimes no more than a few drops.

A solution of the problem to provide equal fuel delivery to different points such as injection nozzles, has been attempted by using a single pump that delivers the fuel to all the nozzles through a distributor which connects the common pump with a plurality of nozzles one by one in succession. In other Words, in a four-cylinder engine, for example, the four nozzles are fed with fuel by means of a distributor supplied from a common injection pump, the operation being such that the common injection pump is connected to one cylinder at a time on each working stroke, and consequently the pump is obliged to make four injection strokes for each revolution of the shaft of the engine. It is evident that such a system employing a single pump stroke for each engine cylinder, is certain to deliver equal amounts to the different nozzles at all loads, because only the delivery of one single pump unit has to be regulated. However, that system has only a limited application, which is to engines with very low revolution speeds for the shaft because the common pump unit has to run at a speed that is multiplied by the num-' ber. of cylinders which it has to serve.

My invention as applied to a distributing system, for example, a multiple nozzle system, has for its object to provide a solution for this problem of fuel feed that involves the use of injection apparatus and a feed system practicable for high speed engines, a special object being to insure that the equal distribution of the fuel will occur for all speeds and different loads on the engine. According to the present invention, the pressure for the system may be developed by any means, for example, a common pump unit which constantly delivers fuel under pressure to one of my feed controls or injection control devices which include a reciprocating part, or a piston in a metering chamber that meters and delivers a certain definite quantity of fuel to the nozzles as the timing element of my control device connects the metering chamber to each nozzle being served. 7

The presence of accumulated gas or air bubbles in a feed system such as this is highly objectionable, particularly where the fuel is being metered or measured in a metering chamber, that is to say, a measuring chamber. Such bubbles of course would interfere with the accurate and efficient metering of the fuel. One of the objects which of course would be objectionable. the objects of the present invention is to provide 1 simple means and a simple method associated with the operation of the feed line to the point of consumption which will prevent the volatiliz a of the invention is to provide an arrangement for the fuel ports or passages, and a method of using the same that will insure thorough scavenging of the passages and metering chamber at 1 all times.

When apparatus constructed in accordance to form in the feed line or metering chamber, One of tion of the fuel.

I with this invention is employed for feeding volatile fuels suchas gasoline, gas bubbles may tend an embodiment of the invention, showing that the metering chamber need not be incorporated directly with the rotor to effect the distribution of the liquid to different points of consumption, and this view illustrates another means for effecting the regulation of the capacity of the metering chamber at will. In this view certain parts are shown partially in elevation. This view illustrates two outlet ducts to which equal quanti- A further object of the invention'is to provide simple means for varying the capacity of the metering chamber,

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described-hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an i 1 efficient. liquid metering and distributing apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is the appended claims. 7

In the drawings: Fig. 1. is a vertical section through a double 1 acting metering and distributing device embodya ing my invention, showing means for-regulating the capacity of the metering chamber, and illustrating the same connected up to means for sup- 1 plying the liquid such as liquid fuel, under pressure; this view shows two nozzles which this device supplies with equal quantities of fuel. This view also illustrates means which I prefer to I employ in the feed lines to the distributing points or nozzles, when the apparatus is used in connection with a volatile fuel, which means operates to prevent volatilization of the fuel in the vicinity of the'metering chamber.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but omitting I described in thefollowing specification, while the, broad scope of the invention is pointed out in pressure, and also showing a connection to a single nozzle. The device illustrated in Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of my invention in which the metering chamber is filled and emptied at one end only, being partially activated by a spring, whereas the device illustrated in Fig. 1 is double acting. The device illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is adapted for distributing equal quantities of fuel to a plurality of consumption points 1 45 the apparatus for supplying the liquid under] or nozzles in succession, the delivery ducts being disposed circumferentially around the periphery of the device Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and illustrates how the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, is adapted to supply equal quantities of liquid to a plurality of distribution points or nozzles through the medium of pairs of cooperating fuelinlets and outlets spaced around the periphery of the casing or stator.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, certain parts increase the scavenging effects of the liquid ties of fuel are distributed as the rotor revolves.

Fig. 5a is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrating a variation of the construction shown in Fig. 5 in which the metering chamber is formed with,- in the rotor, and employing the same means illustrated in Fig. 5 for regulating the capacity of the metering. chamber but with certain modifications of detail.

r Fig. 5b is a view similarto Fig; 5 and illus- 7 trating a construction in which the metering chamber is not located within the, rotor, but, in

which the means for regulating the capacity of the metering chamber is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig, 1. V 7

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment ofthe invention particularly adapted for serving multiple cylinder engines; in the construction illustrated, the capacity of the metering chamber is regulatedthrough the agency of a movable plug that can be shifted toward or from the plunger or pistonv that reciprocates in the metering chamber to meter the liquid to the points of consumption. This embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 6, is also adapted to supply the liquid to a plurality of points of consumption, or nozzles through the agency of the revolving rotor supplied with the liquid through a single supply line, and involves the use of two sets of delivery ducts located at different levels on the casing or stator. This view also illustrates a construction forthe ends of the metering chamber .bodiment of the invention illustrating some of the features illustrated in Fig. 6, but utilizing a diiferent form and arrangement of inlet and outlet ports in the rotor that are adapted to increase the scavenging effect of the incoming liquid.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line lill 0 of Fig. 9, and further illustrating the inlet port arrangement.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectionillustrating a simple embodimentof the invention in which the ports in the stator and the rotor cooperate to deliver metered quantities of liquid to the, individual ducts of two groups or sets of delivery ducts; in this embodiment the ducts are disposed so as to flowing into the metering chamber.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through an embodiment of the invention in'which the cooperating ports of the rotor and stator are located in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and illustrates a construction and'arrangement of parts enabling both ends of the metering chamber to be utilized in metering the charges of fuel passing to the different outlet ducts.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. l I illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the liquid 4 to be metered, is raised from a reservoir la by a pump 2 which may be of any type, but as illustrated is of a, type known commonly as a gear pump. This pump delivers into a delivery duct or pipe 3 in which pressure can be raised to a predetermined limit as will be described hereinafter.

The duct or tube 3 delivers to a casing 4 having a bore 40. in which a rotor 5 is mounted for rotation on the axis of the :bore 4a which, in the present instance, is vertical.

The casing t operates as a stator for supporting this rotor ii, and inlet and outlet ports are provided in these two parts enabling the liquid to be delivered through two delivery ducts or tubes 6 that deliver the liquid to points of consumption. In the present instance, these tubes 5 are constructed so that they constitute injection nozzles for injecting the liquid such as a liquid fuel, and for this purpose the delivery ends of these tubes are provided with restricted delivery ports I.

Any desired working pressure is maintained in the inlet duct 3, and in the present instance, this is illustrated as consisting f a spring-loaded valve 9 held on its seat by a coil spring II); when this valve opens at the limit of the desired pressure, the liquid is bypassed through the valve and through'a return duct 8 back into the reservoir Id.

In the construction illustrated, the inlet duct 3 delivers the liquid throughan inlet port H in the stator or casing 4 which, in the present in stance, is provided with two branches [2 and I3, each one of which serves one of the delivery ducts 6, and the rotor 5 includes a sleeve I6 and a shiftable plug 25. the purpose of which is to regulate the capacity of the metering chamber in the sleeve I6, as will be described hereinafter. This sleeve #6 for this purpose, is provided with two of the metering chamber iii that is formed as a coaxial bore in the sleeve I6, which bore is closed at its upper end by the aforesaid plug 2|. Aprojection 26 extends up from the lower end of the chamber is to act as a stop for the downward movement of the movable member or piston I8, a similar projection Zla may be provided the lower end of the plug, These two projections as and 2 to limit the movement of the piston i8 when the device is in operation. The stator 4 is provided with two delivery passages or ports 22 and 23 which are respectively in line with the ports M and !5, the latter of which aligns with the branch 12 of the inlet port ll..

Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the sleeve l6, and in the present instance, the lower end of this sleeve is provided with a coaxial gear wheel or pinion I! which would be driven by some movable part, for example, in a motor, by some mechanism driven off of the motor shaft. I

As stated above, Fig. 1 illustrates the sleeve '6 in a position to fill the lower end of the metering chamber l9 from the port 13, and the piston I8 is illustrated at the start of its upward travel toward the stop 2Ib.

After the piston or plunger l8 hasarrived at the stop 2th,. the lower end of the metering chamher is wili have been filled to its capacity. After this occurs the port I! will come into line with the delivery port 22, and when this occurs the port IE will be in register with the branch port i2, which will admit the liquid to the upper end of the metering chamber i9 and force the piston It down, thereby discharging the measured charge through the port [4 which will then be in. alignment with the outlet port 22. In this way the liquid, by reason of its own pressure and the cooperating features of the rotor and stator, pumps itself in measured charges alternately into the two delivery ducts B, 5.

The quantity of liquid in each charge of course regulated by shifting the capacity regulator plug 2| in or out in the outer end of the chamber [9. This of course may be accomplished by any means desired. In the present instance, the plug 2i may be provided with threads Zib which are received in corresponding threads in the upper end of the bore in the sleeve 55, the lower end "of which forms the metering chamber is. If desired, a check nut (not illustrated) may be employed on the projecting portion of the plug 2i to lock this plug in any desired position.

If the liquid being metered by the metering chamber !9 is sufiiciently' volatile under the temperature at which it is being metered, to vaporize in the ducts l2 and i3 and the chamber i?! when the same is filling, I provide a method and means for preventing such volatilization. This method consists in maintaining a pressure in the metering chamber as at all times above the pressure at which the liquid will volatilize at the veiling temperaturathat is to say, the temperature existing in the liquid in the metering chamher. This temperature of the liquid may be higher than the temperature or" the adjacent walls, since the energy lost in the course of the liquid through the ducts, ports, etc., will be converted into heat. The means that I employ for accomplishing thi is very simple indeed, and consists in providing a restricted outlet port 22a in the outlet duct 22,.and a similar restricted outlet port 230, in the outlet duct 23. The diameter or? these restricted outlets 22a and 23a is of course the same in another embodiment of the invention constructed as illustrated in Fig. 1, and can be accurately computed for any given liquid, the computations of course being based on the known characteristics of the liquid. The same efiect can be attained by making the outlet port of sufficiently small diameter throughout its length, or a portion of its length.

t will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the pistonl8 advances the charge of liquid or fuel at each stroke; in other words, both ends of the metering chamber are employed for measuring the fuel. In Fig. 2 I illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which only one end of the metering chamber is employed in measuring the liquid, and the piston is returned by developing pressure on its outer end to return it and eject the meteredor measured quantity of liquid. The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, employs means such as a coil spring for constantly urging the piston toward the outer end of its travel.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, 479 indicates the casing or stator corresponding to the stator i, the interior of which receives the fuel through an inlet duct 30. The stator l6a is a rotary sleeve on its axis by a pinion Fla. The duct 3a delivers the liquid into an inlet passage or port 31) with alateral branch Ha that extends up to a The coil spring 24 seated in a countersunk recess at the bottom of the metering chamber 1%, thrusts upwardly against the inner side of the head 25 and holds the piston up against a movable plug M for regulating the upstroke of the piston. A radial passage Mn. is provided in the rotor l6 located in the plane of the inlet port 31),

and this passage Ma leads in to the lower end of the metering chamber 191) so that as the rotor lGa moves past the inlet passage 3b, the liquid or fuel will be admitted into the metering chamber [9b below the piston I80 and force the same upwardly against the capacity stop 2 lo. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the inlet and outletports for this device operate in pairs, and there may be as many of these cooperating pairs of these inlets and outlets as desired. In the present instance, Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the use of three inlets and three outlets; the outlet ports being indicated by the reference numeral 22a, and being disposed intermediately between the inlet ports 5b. In Fig. 3 the arrows indicate the directionof flow of the liquid passing through the inlet ports 3?) and out. through the outlet ports 22a into their delivery ducts 6a. In the operation of this device shown in Figs. 2 and 3,*'it will be evident that as soon as the port Ida connects up with its corresponding port 2241, the pressure of the liquid under the piston, will immediately fall, and the piston l8a will then be immediately forced down by the pressure exerted in the upper portion of I the chamber I9a. This force of course compresses the spring 24 as the piston moves down. When the port Ma of the rotor reaches the next inlet port 3b, another admission of fuel will take place in the metering chamber E91) and the cycle will be repeated.

The capacity regulator plug 2 lo may have any suitable means associated with it for adjustment in or out to limit the upward travel of the piston i821.

The port I la is preferably provided with an enlarged arcuate mouth Mb which, however, should not reach the outlet port 22a until cutoff occurs at the inlet port 3 The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is in general somewhat similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, that is to say, a supply duct is provided with a lower branch to feed inlet port 3d and an upper branch 3e for maintaining pressure in the chamber I90.

The metering chamber I941 extends down into the interior of the rotor l6b as in the construction shown in Fig. 2. At the point where the i delivering returned liquid down into a reservoir l6 and this return pipe may be provided with a 7 spring loaded relief valve28 having a closure 28a that, under suificient pressure in the upper portion of the chamber We, will open and permit a portion of the liquid to return to the reservoir. The upward movement of the piston I8!) is of course controlled by the regulator plug 21d. The mode of operation of this embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, is substantially the same as that of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, that is to say, the down stroke of the piston 8b is caused by the excessive pressure existing in the upper portion of the chamber I when the radial port Me moves around into line with the radial outlet port 22b; eXcept that inithe present instance, if desired the lower end of the piston l8b may be constructed with a valve closure 25a in its lower end to come upon the valve seat 26a through which the radial inlet port I40 emerges into the interior of the metering chamber Md. The advantage of this construction illustrated in Fig. 4 with the bottom end of the piston l8b, is that the valve closure 25a positively prevents any leakage of the liquidpast the piston Ilia at the end of the down stroke.

In the practice of my invention it is not necessary to have the metering chamber inside of the rotor, nor it is necessary to employ the same means illustrated heretofore for regulating the effective capacity of the metering chamber. Such an embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which 32 indicates a stator which may be considered as a part of the stator casing, a portion of which consists of the casing section or body 40 that is a distinct part from the part 32 but connected with the same.

by two ducts 3B and 3|. The casing section 48 is provided with a bore 480, in which a rotor 35 rotates. The lower end of this rotor has an annular groove 36 in its periphery that is always in communication with the passage 38 that leads in from the. duct 30; and the upper end of the rotor has an annular groove 31 that is always in communication with the passage 39 that connects with the duct 3|. Adjacent the upper end of the rotor 35 a D-shaped port 31a.

is provided, the upper end of which communicates with the groove 31, and the lower end of which may communicate with the upper branch of a branched inlet 401); near the lower end of the rotor 35 a similar D-shaped passage 36a is provided, the lower end of which communicates with the groove 36, and the upper end of which may align with the lower branch of the port 40b; The two branches of the port 4% emerge into the bore 40a.

The casing section 40 has two outlet connections 6e and 6d, the former of which is in the same plane as the upper branch of the passage 40b, and the latter of which is in the same plane as the lower branch of the passageMlb. The fluid to be metered is supplied through a pipe 400, the end of which is connected through the wall of the casing section 40 to deliver the liquid into the passage 40d.

In the position of the rotor 35 illustrated in Fig. 5, the liquid will flow through the upper D- shaped passage 31a, and through the tube 3| into the upper end of the metering chamber 32a formed in the casing section 32, and this will force the piston [8c downwardly, and this downward movement will continue until the lower end face l8d of the piston completely laps the port 34 which is in communication with the tube 30. This downward movement of the piston of course will expel the liquid charge that filled the lower end of the chamber 32a at the termination of the up-stroke of the piston l8c; this charge will flow out through the tube 30, port 38, annular groove 36, D-passage 36a, and thence to the delivery duct 6d. When the rotor 35 is oriented through 180, the relation of the ports and passages will be reversed so that the liquid from the upper end of the metering chamber will exhaust through port 39, 3'1, D- passage 37a, and delivery duct lie.

The upper end face llie of the piston l8c is inclined like the lower face I842, but these faces are inclined in opposite directions as illustrated. Associated with the piston l8c I provide means for maintaining the piston in any desired oriented position. As illustrated in Fig. 5, a maximum effective capacity of the metering chamber the will be obtained, but it is evident that if the piston I80 is held in a more or less oriented position, the effective length of the piston in the plane of the ports 34 and 35 of course would cause an earlier cut-01f of these ports in the movement of the piston in one direction or the other. In order to orientthe piston and maintain it in any desired oriented position, one end of the piston is provided with an angular socket lllf which slidingly fits over an angular stem lily of similar cross-section,

that extends down from a rotatable head l8h..

This head l8h can be oriented in any desired position and held there by means of a lever or handle 33 projecting radially from the same. In practice, some means (not illustrated) would be provided for holding this lever or handle 33 in any desired position.

Although I have illustrated the piston I80 in Fig. 5, with inclined end faces, and employ the orienting means for the same to regulate or vary the effective capacity of the metering chamber 32, it should 'be understood that this inclined end principle can be employed in the more compact type of device illustrated in Fig. 1, and such an embodiment is illustrated in Fig. a. And furthermore, it should be understood that the plug type of regulator for controlling the amount of stroke of the piston l8 such as shown in Fig. 1, can be employed in the type of construction illustrated in Fig. 5 instead of the inclined end type 'of regulating means. This is illustrated in Fg. 5b. The preferred construction employed in Figs. 5a and 5b will be described in detail later.

It should furthermore be understood that one inclined face may be sufficient; that the inclined face can also have the form of a helix or other form, and that the wall may have this inclined and be of helical form.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 I illustrate a type of construction which adapts itself for metering charges distributed to a plurality of points of consumption, such as a plurality of cylinders of an engine, and in the type of embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, I illustrate still another means for regulating and controlling the effective capacity of the metering chamber, and I also provide an arrangement enabling two different sets of outlet passages to be employed;

and while I do not limit myself to the number,

of individual delivery ducts of each set in Fig. 6, I have shown each set of delivery ducts as consisting of three individual ducts adapting the device to serve six cylinders.

Referring to Fig. 6, 40 indicates the stator in which the rotor llic is located and arranged to be driven through a coupling lBd at the upper end of a' shaft connection l lie. The fluid to be metered and distributed is admitted through an inlet connection 36 to a longitudinally disposed passage 3] in the stator 40, and the ends of this passage communicate with two annular grooves H formed in the outer periphery of the stator,

which of is of cylindrical form, These grooves are covered by tight bands ilo which are fluid-tight. municate with three radial passages I211, I22), and 12c, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and these passages are located apart. The stator is also provided with two sets of outlet ports indicated by the reference numerals lid, l2e, and l2f, and the lower set of these ports is indicated in Fig. 8; but it should be understood that there isan upper set of these ports similarly placed to coopcrate with the upper groove fil while the lower set cooperates with the lower groove 'tl. These ports lZb are provided with outlet connections such as the outlet connection At two diametrically opposite points the rotor is provided with two substantially V-shaped passages 42 and 43, the arms of the VS of the said ports, however, being inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. Theupper end of the upper branch of the passage 42 communicates with the ring or groove ll, and the lower end of the lower branch of this passage is in the plane of the outlets l2d, l2e, and It}. At the lower end of the rotor lfic the lower end of the lower arm of the V port 53, communicates with the lower liquid ring or groove 4i, and the upper end of the upper branch of this port is in the plane of the lower set of outlet ports ltd, l2e, and I27.

The inner'end of the V-shaped passage 53 communicates with the inner end of the metering chamber llld. This may be accomplished through a small duct or coaxial well 25 that extends down from the lower end of the metering chamber. 7 The upper end wall of the metering chamber led is formed by means of an axially shifting plug Ele that can be shifted longitudinally at will through the agency of, a lever 2|) having a swivel connection to a loose collar 2| g that fits around a reduced neck 2lh onqthe end of the plug Zle. This plug has a coaxial-duct or well 44 extending in from its inner face and communicating with a cross port at, and this cross port 'communicateswith an annular groove 55a extending around the periphery of the plug Zle. This annular groove 45a intersects the vertex of the V port 42; with this construction it will be evident that the passages lZct, I22), and l2c, are constantly supplied with liquid, and as the rotor rotates they will supply the liquid alternately to the ends of the metering chamber 19d. Fig. 6 illustrates the rotor in a position in which it is, when admitting liquid down through the port 44 into the upper end of the metering chamber, and forcing the piston l'llc downwardly to expel the charge of liquid in the lower end of the chamber llid into the upper branch of the V passage 43 and thence out through the outlet port ltd.

The lever Elf is provided with some means for holding it in any adjusted position desired, in which case it may be connected by a link Elk to a quadrant or lever, or other means for holding the link Zlk in a fixed position.

In the rotation of the rotor I60 it will be evident that when it has been oriented through from the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper branch of the V passage '43 The annular grooves ll comwill admit liquid from the lower groove 4| into the lower end of the metering chamber Hid,

Furthermore, if it is desired to insure that leakage of liquid past the piston I810 will be overcome in spite of wear occurring at the contacting periphery of the piston, the ends of the piston [870 can be formed into conical valve closures Isl 1 coming upon the conical seats at the ends of the metering chamber suchas illustrated.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate another embodiment of the invention which has some of the features of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, but

which is somewhat simpler as to port arrangement, and in this embodiment I employ an an- I nular groove on, or in, the body of the stator, which supplies the liquid through simple ports not of V-iorm, to admit the liquid into both ends of the metering chamber, the outlet ports being 1 spacedcircumferen'tially in th'stator and 10 cated intermediately between the inlet ports that I lead in from the annular supply I groove. I other words, the general arrangement of the ini let and outlet ports is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, although of course as in'the construction illustrated in Figs. l '7 and 8, there may be if desired, a greater numher of inlet ports in each set, and a greater numtheports I211, I217, etc., of Fig. 7. The rotor 50'is provided with two diametricaly opposite inlet ports 5l' and 52 which are inclined in opposite directions, and both of these ports emerge on the face of the rotor 50 in the plane in which the inlet port 49 is located. The exhaust port or outlet port 53 of the lower end of the metering stator where it may be connected to an operating part such as a lever 63. In practice this lever 4 would be associated with a quadrant or some other means for holding it fixed in different posi--' tions. The piston 51 is always held up against the stop 6-2 by the pressure in the metering chamber.

In this embodiment of the invention if desired, the ends of the piston lBd may be conber of outlet ports in each set of outlet ports. 7 As illustrated in Fig. 9, theliquid is admitted through a pipe connection 41 into an annular groove 48 corresponding tothe grooves 4| illus- 'trated in'Figs. 6 and 7. There are a plurality of [ports such as the inlet port 49 corresponding to chamber, is located in the end wall of the metering chamber, and communicates with a radial I passage 54 that is in line with the exhaust ports or outlet ports 55 that lead to pipe connections I such as the pipe connection 56 for delivering the I liquid to the point of consumption. The ports 5| and 52 need not necessarily be opposite each other. The important feature of the design is only that both ports are arranged in the same I plane,'and fed by the same ports.

The regulator for controlling the'efiective capacity of the metering chamber is in the form of a plug 51Jwhich of course is of the same type as t the plug Zle illustrated in Fig. 6 and having the same port arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 6,

that is to say, it includes an outlet port 58 with across port 59 communicating therewith, and this cross port is in line with an outlet port 60 through the rotor leading the liquid to a pipe I connection 6| similar to the pipe connection56, and leading to another point of consumption.

The plug 51 can be shifted in or out, and held in 1 1 any desired position, for which purpose an adjustable stop or stem 62 is provided that is guided to slide in and out through the upper endoi the scavenge any gases such as vapors oi the liquid,

or air that might tend to accumulate in the ends of the metering chamber. This advantage arises from the fact that the flow in each port or passage in the stator and in the rotor, is always in the same direction.

The lower end of the rotor 50 is provided with a coupling head 61 to which a shaft may be coupled for driving the same in synchronism with the engine as in other embodiments of the invention.

In the operation of this device illustrated in Fig.9, it will be evident that in the position of the rotor 50 illustrated, admission of the liquid under pressure from the passages 49 and 5|, is taking place, and the piston IBd is at the upper end of its travel and about to commence its down- As the piston moves down, it will I ward travel. force the liquid in the lower end of the metering chamber out through the vertical port 53 and the branch port 54 through the outlet connection 56. The construction is symmetrical so that a similar half cycle takes place when the upper end of the port 52 comes around into register with one of the inlet ports 49. This of course will fill the lower end of the metering chamber and force the piston l M upwardly to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 9, thereby expelling the liquid in the upper end of the metering chamber out through the port 58 and the radial passage 54a that corresponds to the lower radial passage 54. "At this moment the passage 54a will be in register with the outlet port 60.

The cross port 58 preferably communicates with an annular port 56a at its ends, which is similar to the annular port 45a illustrated in Fig.

7. This insures that communication will always course actually located above the plane of the section lin Ill-46.

Of course, it is not essential to use the inclined port idea illustrated in Fig. 9, with the same port arrangement illustrated in Fig. 9, for admitting the liquid through the end walls'of the metering chamber. A very simple-"construction utilizing the inclined ports, is illustratedin Fig. 11. In thi figure an annular groove 68 is provided, into which the liquid is fed through a supply pipe 69,

but in this case the rotor is provided with twodia of rotation of the rotor.

13 ametrically opposite radial ports H and '52 that lead respectively into the ends of the metering chamber, and diametrically opposite to these ports H and 72, inclined outlet ports i3 and 14 are provided that lead out from the metering chamber and emerge on the face of the rotor in the plane of the annular supply port 68. The ports 13 and M of course are inlet ports, and the ports H and 72 are outlet ports, and the flow is always in the same direction in these ports. In the position illustrated in Fig. 11, the port 14 is admitting liquid into the lower end of the metering chamber and driving the piston 15 upwardly, and in this upward travel the piston is expelling the liquid in the upper end of the metering chamber through the port H leading to the outlet pipe connection it. The circumferential arrangement of the ports is substantially as illustrated in Fig. it). It is merely necessary to have the outlet ports ll and 18 in vertical alignment with each other, and the pairs of these ports that are in vertical alignment with each other, are merely spaced equidistant 'circumferentially around the periphery of the stator. This embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11 is a very simple solution for the problem of providing a controllable metering means for controlling the effective capacity, and at the same time distributing the metering charges in succession to a plurality of points of consumption such as nozzles of an engine.

As is illustrated in Fig. 11 the control means for controlling the capacity bf the metering chamber is in the form of a plug 19 similar to the plug 2! illustrated in Fig. 1, means such as a controllable lever 80 being provided and attached to the outer end of this plug for moving it in or out to any desired position. This plug may be provided with a tip 8| of reduced diameter to operate as a stop with the upward movement of the piston, and a similar stop 82 may be provided projecting up from the wall formin the lower end of th metering chamber. It will be noted that the flow of the liquid in these ports is always in the same direction, thus providing an effective scavenging.

Although in all of the embodiments of the invention described above, the ports control the flow of the liquid passing in or out through the side of the rotor, it is not essential that the ports be disposed in that way; and in Fig. 12 I illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the ports are located in a. transverse plane, that is to say, in a manner which will enable the liquid to pass in and out through a, cover plate abutting against the end of the rotor, the cooperating ports in the rotor being formed in this end face.

Referring to Fig. 12, the rotor $3 may be mounted for rotation within a casing or stator 3d, being mounted on one or more bearings such as the ball bearing 85. The end face 86 of the rotor has two ports including the port 81 that serves the upper end of the metering chamber 8% and a port 9 that serves the lower end of the metering chamber. These ports emerge on the face 86 at different distances from the axis The ports 81 and 89 are located diametrically opposite to each other. The liquid is delivered through a supply connection 9?) into a receiver 9| having a port 92 and a port $3, the former of which is the same distance from the axis of rotation as the port 8'1, and the latter of which is at the same distance from the axis of rotation as the mouth of the port 89 as it emerges on the face 83. The cover plate 94 that carries the inlet and outlet ports to serve the ports 8'! and 89, has a pair of outlet connections and 96, the latter of which can align with the port 89 as indicated in Fig. 13, and the former of which is located at the same distance from the axis of rotation as the port 81. The effective capacity of the metering chamber 88 is regulated by a regulator 9'! in the form of a. plug that can be guided in and out through the end face 85 of the rotor. This plug has a port arrangement similar to that illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9, that is to say, it has an axial port or passage 98 in its end communicating with a cross-port 99, and this cross-port communicates at all times with a chamber Hill which communicates with the inner end of the passage 81. v

In the position of the parts indicated in Fig. 13, the liquid will flow in through the inlet connection s9 and downthrough the ports 81 and 98 into the upper end of the metering chamber 88 to force the piston IOI down to the lower end of the metering chamber in which it is indicated in Fig. 13, and while this is occurring the liquid is being forced out through the lower end of the metering chamber up through the port 89 and out through the outlet connection 96. When the rotor 83 is oriented through from the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 13, the ports will be connected up in an opposite manner, that is to say, the port 89 will be in communication with the port 93, and that will admit liquid into the lower end of the metering chamber and force the piston It?! to the limit of its upward move ment, that is to say, until its movement is arrested by the lower end of the plug $7. The upper end of the plug 9'! in practice, would be connected to some part such as the link I 02 which can be set and maintained in any desired position to hold the plug 97 in any adjusted position desired.

If desired, means may be provided for yieldingly pressing the cover plate 93 and the rotor 53 together so as to insure the presence of sufficient pressure between their contacting faces to discourage leakage of liquid in the crevice between these two faces. This could be accomplished by putting coil springs under the heads of the attaching bolts H33 in a common manner. with the lower ends of the springs pressing down against the upper face of the cover. In the present instance, however, I have illustrated a coil spring Hi4 seated at the inner end of the stator 84 and thrusting against the outer ring of the ball bearing 85. While I have illustrated the end face 85 for the rotor as a plane face,

it is obvious that if desired, this face could be a conical face instead of a plane face, in which case the inner face of the cover plate 94 would of course be a conical face disposed at the same angle as the end face of the rotor. That construction would assist in centering the butt end of the rotor within the stator.

If desired, the end faces of the piston it! may be made of conical form to operate as valve closures coming upon conical seats H15 formed at the bottom of the metering chamber and at the lower end of the plug 91 that forms the upper end wall of this chamber.

Reference is now had to Figs. 5a and 5b, the former of which illustrates a construction closely related to that illustrated in Fig. 5. However, Fig. 5a is used to demonstrate the fact that in using the inclined end type of regulator lac for regulating the effective capacity of the metering chamber, it is not necessary to have the metering 15 a chamber located to one side of the rotor-as in Fig; 5. In Fig. 5a the liquid is admitted through asupply connection it that admits the liquid into a D-shaped port with two branches I01 that emerge on the face of the bore I08 in which the rotor I89 seats. This rotor has an upper radial port III! and a lower radial port III, the former of which rotates in the plane of the inlet branch I31, and the latter in the plane of the lower branch I01. I

Diametrically opposite to the inlet ports-I01; two outlet ports H2 and II3 are formed radially in the stator, which connect up to outlet connections as indicated. In the position of the parts indicated in Fig. 5a, the liquid is being admitted to the lower end of the metering chamber to force the piston II I upwardly and force the charge that is in the upper end of the metering chamber, out through the outlet port III In the opposite position of the parts, that is to say, when the rotor has been oriented through 180,the port I III will register with the upper inlet branch I01 and admit the liquid to the upper end of the metering chamber, and at the same time the port I II will register with the outlet II2 so that the liquid admitted above the piston will force it down and expel the chargein the lower end of the metering chamber through the aligning ports III and H2.

iupper face I I5, and when this face laps the port IIII, it will out off flow through this port. soon as this portis lapped, of course the upward movement of the piston H4 will be arrested. In order to enable the piston IM to be oriented on its own axis to vary the effective length of the piston in the plane of the port I I0, I employ the same kind of a control device as that illustrated in Fig. 5, that is to say, I provide a rotary part IIB which is in the form of a plug mounted for adjusting orientation in the upper end of the The upper end of this The piston IIII has an inclined bore in the rotor I09.

the-effective capacity of the metering chamber;

However, inFig. 5b the port arrangement for the. rotor is somewhat different from that illustrated I in Fig. 5, employing inclined ports I28 and I29 instead of the D-shaped ports inFig. 5. However, a D-shaped admission passage is employed so that two branch inlets I36 and I3I emerge on eating respectively with the grooves I33 and I35,

and these lead over to the stator section I39 in which the metering chamber is located and in which the piston I4!) reciprocates. The inlet branch ports I39 and I3I are supplied with liquid the liquid will flow through the inlet branch I plug IIS has a swivel connection II! in a collar II B which has radial pins such as the pin II9 mounted for rotation in sockets in the fork end of an adjusting lever I23.

This lever may be supported on a fulcrum pin I2 I, and adjusting means such'as a link I22 connected to it for adjusting the lever and holding the same in any position desired. The side of the plug IIB has In connection with Fig. 5a, it should be understood that although I have described only two inlet ports and two outlet ports located diametrically opposite to each other, it is obvious that in this type of construction the same circumjfe rential'spacing or arrangement of ports may be adapted if desired, having the typical features of arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. In other words, the number of these cooperating ports would be increased to adapt the device to serve as many points of consumption, or nozzles,

' i as required.

The construction shown inFig. 5b is also closely.

related to that shown in Fig. 5. The construction shown in Fig. 5b is illustrated to show that the metering chamber located as it is, removed I from the rotor, it is not essential to employ the inclined face type of control device forregulating through the pipe connection IM, and diametrically opposite to these branches two outlet connections I42 and I33 are located. In the operation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5b,'it

will be evident that in the position'illustrated,

up through the upper inclined port I28 and thence in the groove I34 to the connection I31 which leads into the upper end of the metering chamber, thereby forcing the piston I40 down- I 38, the lower inclined port I29, and the outlet connection l43. ,The effective capacity of the metering chamber in this case, can be regulated by the regulating plug I44 constructed like the plug 2! illustrated in Fig. l, and functioning in the same way.

The ends of the piston I40 can be provided with short coaxial stems I45 which operate as stops to arrest the up and down movements of the piston. These stops also operate to prevent th body of the piston from overlapping the ports be resorted to without departing from the spirit 7 of the invention.

What I claim is: I

1. In a liquid fuel feeding apparatus, the corribination of a relatively fixed casing having a bore therein, a rotor ro-tatably mounted in the bore, and having a metering chamber therein, a movable member associated with the metering chamber, movable to and fro to effect the filling and emptying of the same, said rotor and said casing having ports for admitting the liquid to the metering chamber to fill the same to its effective capacity, and for effecting the discharge of the fuel from the chamber thereafter, and means for regulating the effective capacity of the metering chamber, said ports for admitting the liquid to the metering chamber including a port located end of the movable member having a tip to come upon said seat to prevent leakage of'the fuel I under pressure through the port from the chamber when the movable member has moved to the limit of its movement toward said seat.

2. A liquid fuel'feeding apparatus, comprising: a Casing defining a rotary arbor bore, a pressure chamber atone end of said bore, delivery ports communicating with said arbor bore and said pressure chamber, and a plurality of discharge passages likewise intersecting said arbor bore; an arbor rotatably mounted in said arbor bore and defining a socket communicating with said pressure chamber and a passage adapted to register in succession with said delivery ports and discharge passages; means for maintaining fuel under pressure in said pressure chamber and supplying fuel under pressure to said delivery port; a floating plunger in said socket forming therewith a metering chamber; means establishing an unbalanced force urging said plunger toward said pressure chamber to fill said metering chamber when said metering chamber is in communication with said delivery port; said plunger adapted to be urged by the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber in a direction to empty said metering chamber when in communication with said discharge passages.

3. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus, comprising: a casing defining a rotary arbor bore, a pressure chamber at one end of said bore and alternate delivery and discharge passages. intersecting said bore at circumferentially spaced points; an arbor rotatably mounted in said bore and defining an axial wall of said pressure chamber,

said arbor having a socket therein likewise eX- posed to said pressure chamber and a passage leading from said socket to the periphery of said arbor for communication in succession with said delivery and discharge passages; means for maintaining a constant supply of fuel under pressure to said passages and to said pressure chamber; a floating plunger in said socket, one end exposed to said pressure chamber, the other end defining with said socket a metering chamher; and means effective when said metering chamber is in communication with said delivery passages for urging said plunger toward said pressure chamber to expandsaid metering chamber, said plunger being urged by the pressure in said pressure chamber to discharge fluid therefrom when in communication with said discharge passages.

4. A fuel feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the passage in said arbor communicates with the axial end of said socket and forms therewith a valve seat; and said floating 18 plunger is provided with a coacting valve element adapted to engage said seat.

5. A fuel feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the discharge passages are provided with constructions therein to maintain a back pressure in said metering chamber to prevent volatilization of fuel therein and the consequent forming of gas pockets therein.

6. A fuel feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the discharge passages are provided with constructions therein to maintain a back pressure in said meterin chamber to prevent volatilization of fuel therein and the conequent forming of gas pockets therein, and wherein the passage in said arbor communicates with the axial end of said socket and forms therewith a valve seat; and said floating plunger is provided with a coacting valve element adapt ed to engage said seat.

7. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising: a rotary arbor having axially directed socket in one end and a flow passage communicating between said socket and a side wall of said arbor; means defining an arbor bore journalling said arbor; means defining a pressure chamber embracing the socket end of said arbor; delivery passages communicating with said arbor bore and said pressure chamber; discharge passages likewise intersecting said arbor bore; said passageway adapted to register in succession with said delivery and discharge passages as said arbor is rotated, and said pressure chamber being in constant communication with its delivery passage; a floating plunger in said arbor socket forming therewith a metering chamber; means incorporating said plunger for sealing said passageway from said pressure chamber when said plunger is in its inner position with respect to said socket; means establishing an unbalanced force urging said plunger toward said pressure chamber to fill said metering chamber when said metering chamber is in communication with said delivery port; said plunger adapted to be urged by the fluid pressurein said pressure chamber in a direction to empty said metering chamber when in communication with said discharge passages.

HENRI MORGENROTH. 

